Shift

THIRTEEN.1

Blaze stared at the wooden door for a moment in disbelief. He had known telling Russ Naven about the spell would result in some sort of punishment, but he had never expected to be shoved into a supply closet like a used rag.

"That asshole!" Helio shouted, kicking a yellow custodial bucket; it rolled across the floor and splashed dirty water on Lexi's leg.

Lexi barely reacted. Blaze noticed that her eyes were red and her face was puffy, as if she had a mild allergic reaction to something; she clearly hadn't stopped crying all afternoon. "What are they going to do to us?" she whispered.

"I'm not sure," said Blaze, listening to the crackle of the fluorescent light overhead. "We broke the law. He could just release us to our parents, but we've graduated from school already so we could be put on trial. As for you and Kayden... they'll probably wipe your memories." He sat down and leaned his head against the wall. "Though I'm not sure if they'll be able to wipe Kayden's because of the Bond."

"If he can't erase my memories, what'll happen to me?" Kayden asked. Blaze caught the hint of nervousness in her voice and looked up. She was standing, looking slightly ridiculous in the clothes she had borrowed from him. She had rolled the white button-down's sleeves to her elbows and the jeans she wore were much too big; they hung low on her hips, accentuated by the large pockets.

"Blaze," Kayden snapped, and he finally looked at her face. Her green eyes flashed angrily. "What'll happen to me?"

He sighed. "I don't know. I can't think of an instance where they couldn't erase someone's mind. Maybe they'll make some sort of arrangement where they can keep an eye on you, or maybe they'll let you work for the Congregation as some sort of aide."

"But the Congregation is located in Los Angeles."

"At the moment. They change location every five years."

"But what about my family?" Her tone was sharp. "Will they let me be with them?"

Blaze bit his tongue. He didn't know what to say. "It's possible. It just depends on the arrangement they make for you."

"So probably not."

"I..." He knew he wasn't fooling her. "I don't know."

In an instant, all expression left her face, reminding Blaze of a porcelain doll. Lexi took a step towards her cousin and attempted to wrap her in her arms, but Kayden stopped her, forcing her back.

"No," was all she said.

"This is total shit," Helio said, slamming his fist into the wall. "Russ Naven is an asshole. Why couldn't we have just waited for everyone to get out of lunch? If we had asked anyone else on the Congregation, like Lira Fallon or Nicholas Wheeler or even Carsten, I promise you, we wouldn't be in here! This isn't even legal!"

"We just have to wait it out," Blaze said. "Maybe Naven will tell the rest of the Congregation and they'll convince him to let us go. Or maybe if we do have to go through a trial—"

"I'm not going on trial for something I didn't fucking do!" Helio shouted, looking murderous.

"Something you didn't do?" Lexi said suddenly, turning to look at him full on. Her eyes were the clearest they'd been all morning and she pointed a finger at him. "You're the one who told me about magic. That's definitely something you did."

Helio stared at her, and for a terrifying moment, Blaze thought he was going to hit her. Instead, he looked away and mumbled, "It was a mistake." Then he lowered himself to the floor to join Blaze against the wall.

Lexi's lower lip shook. Blaze thought she was going to scream, but she didn't. Instead, she plopped down on the floor beside Helio. He turned to her, opened his mouth to say something, but before he could do anything she had buried her face in his chest. She didn't make a sound, but her shoulders shook. Helio looked down at her with a frown, and tentatively laid a hand on her shoulder. She didn't shove him off.